scangauge users - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

timefourfood · 09-30-2009, 10:25 PM

I just got the scangauge and ready to fillup on my first tank of gas with it, scangauge recommends the calibrating process, by clicking done after filling up, #4 in quick guide.

Does the scangauge read fuel by reading into the car's cpu or it is a code in scangauge that estimates fuel level?

I don't drive everytime with the scangauge connected so when it reads the fuel and fillup, will it be accurate?

If it's not accurate, there is no point in doing the calibrating step. I like the scangauge on how it gives instant mpg, but I don't leave it connected to the car always, prime target for theft.

***RningOnFumes*** · 09-30-2009, 10:33 PM

The SG does not get real time data about gasoline levels from the hook up. You entered a total tank, and on each fill up, you tell it how much you fill up. Over a span of many fill ups *(the more the better), is how it calibrates. As you drive, the SG ticks down on it's own according to the other data it gets like rpm, gpm, and Tps. So if you are sometimes driving with out it and sometimes with it, the SG isn't staying in a state of calibration.

It doesn't tick down at the right time so it doesn't the next time you fill up, what you put in doesn't match its caclulatedd tank amount. It might think you still have 5 gallons left while you were really empty and had put in 13 gallons.

If you do a couple of tanks where you keep the SG plugged while driving, you'll noticed that your numbers are more accurate. It has internal memory so unplug it at your destination and plug it back in for the drive?

timefourfood · 10-01-2009, 01:40 AM

so what should I do with this upcoming fillup and the calibration? Since I drove 10-15miles without scangauge plugged in.

What do you guys do with your scangauge when you park? Do you remove it and lock it up in your glovebox? Just to get an idea on how ppl use them especially ppl in the city.

***humanoid*** · 10-01-2009, 01:52 AM

It won't be accurate if you don't have it plugged in all the time. I just leave mine plugged in all the time on my steering column where I mounted it. The SG will be useless unless it's plugged in every time all the time you drive. Just put a towel over the steering wheel, people will think you're shading the steering wheel from the sun. BTW, where is the SG mounted in your vehicle?

timefourfood · 10-01-2009, 02:41 AM

my SG is on the pull out tray underneath the radio in the center dash.

I just thought a "plugged in all the time" SG will calculate the total tank mpg and how many miles till empty in a tank. While if you don't have it plugged in all the time, you will still get close to accurate current mpg, because isn't it determined by the RPMs and TPS. I will try to have my SG plugged in every time I drive and hide it when I'm not.

***RningOnFumes*** · 10-01-2009, 04:16 AM

I think it'll be alright if you want to unplug it for security purposes, just be sure to plug it back in before you even start the car.

With mine, I have the wire wrapped around the steering column perfectly. When I get someplace where I get bad vibes, I just stick it with wire attached into my little cubby hold to the right side of my knee. I have a Yaris.

xsvtoyz · 10-09-2009, 08:22 AM

same place I put it on my truck and I just filed the box a little so it fit deeper in and ran the wire from the back its barely visible so I never remove it.

GeneW1 · 10-24-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timefourfood

I just got the scangauge and ready to fillup on my first tank of gas with it, scangauge recommends the calibrating process, by clicking done after filling up, #4 in quick guide.

Does the scangauge read fuel by reading into the car's cpu or it is a code in scangauge that estimates fuel level?

I don't drive everytime with the scangauge connected so when it reads the fuel and fillup, will it be accurate?

If it's not accurate, there is no point in doing the calibrating step. I like the scangauge on how it gives instant mpg, but I don't leave it connected to the car always, prime target for theft.

The Scangauge has a long long chord. You can shove it under the dashboard or stash it somewhere. I live in a rural area with little theft but when I visit the city I hide it in the car.

The Scanguage uses OBD-II data to compute fuel consumption. I am not sure what;s on the OBD II CAN bus and what you can do with it.

You will need to calibrate it. Easiest and safest thing to do is drive until you're at 1/4 tank or less. Fill it up and punch in the fuel amount that you put in at fillup. The MPG from first one or two fillups will be inaccurate. After that time the gauge will run more accurately.

Until the Scanguage is calibrated it's not accurate. You'll have your basic "engine size" and other calibrations but they won't mean too much until you put in some hard data - how many gallons you bought and how many miles it logged off with you driving.

Resist the urge to share the device with others - if you do it'll confuse it and you'll be stuck with inaccurate data. I did that once or twice and it was "confused" until the next fillup.

Gene

timefourfood · 10-25-2009, 01:02 AM

I just remove my SG and lock it in glove box when I park and remember to put it all together before I drive each time. It's time consuming everytime I drive, but that's the only way to keep it safe.

yea i need to recalibrate my SG, i followed the recalibration when i only pumped up 1/4 of a tank, and the data said i was gettin high 30-low 40mpg, which is impossible. it was way off.

I just don't like the idea of drainin it till 1/4 or less to recalibrate, by the amount of drivin I do, I don't drive much, it will be when gas prices increase, if i fuel up now i can get lower gas price while it's still low.